Table 2. Univariate and multivariate analysis of eczema in relation to early and lifetime use of paracetamol up to the age of 5.
| Longitudinal analysis (N = 700) | |||||||
| Eczema never up to age 3 (N = 700) | |||||||
| Exposure at age 1 and 3 yr | Overall N (%) | n (%) new eczema | Crude OR (95% CI) | Adjusted OR* (95% CI) | P-value | Further adjusted OR† (95% CI) | P-value |
| Early life paracetamol use£ | 0.01‡ | 0.02‡ | |||||
| Never exposed | 275 (39.3) | 6 (2.2) | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Exposed at yr 1, but not at yr3 | 123 (17.6) | 8 (6.5) | 3.12 (1.06,9.19) | 3.11 (1.05,9.18) | 3.01 (1.00,9.04) | ||
| Exposed at yr 3, but not at yr 1 | 161 (23.0) | 13 (8.1) | 3.94 (1.47,10.58) | 3.75 (1.39,10.12) | 3.70 (1.37,10.01) | ||
| Persistently exposed | 141 (20.1) | 12 (8.5) | 4.17 (1.53,11.36) | 3.96 (1.44,10.89) | 3.82 (1.36,10.73) | ||
| Early life paracetamol dose∑ | 0.04‡ | 0.08‡ | |||||
| Low exposure | 423 (60.4) | 16 (3.8) | 1 | 1 | 0.05¶ | 1 | 0.06¶ |
| Medium exposure | 230 (32.9) | 20 (8.7) | 2.42 (1.23,4.77) | 2.39 (1.21,4.71) | 2.31 (1.16,4.60) | ||
| High exposure | 47 (6.7) | 3 (6.4) | 1.73 (0.49,6.19) | 1.65 (0.46,5.93) | 1.59 (0.44,5.74) | ||
*ORs adjusted for child's gender, area of residence and maternal education.
ORs adjusted for child's gender, area of residence and maternal education and additionally adjusted for symptoms of respiratory infections in the first year of life (and for cross-sectional analysis reported infection at year 5).
Overall p-value (likelihood ratio test).
P value for trend computed for dose of paracetamol use in the past month: low exposure (never reported use in the past month), medium exposure (use in past month at age 1 & 3), high exposure (use in past month at both time points).
P value for trend as dose of paracetamol computed using a composite score of paracetamol exposure from yr 1, 3 and 5.
Early life paracetamol use: refers to use prior to the disease outcomes (i.e. first three years of life).
Early life paracetamol dose: refers to dose of exposure in past month in first three years of life prior to disease outcomes.
Lifetime paracetamol use: refers to use of paracetamol up to the age of 5 (i.e. ages 1, 3 and 5).
Lifetime paracetamol dose: refers to dose of paracetamol exposure up to the age of 5 (i.e. ages 1, 3 and 5).